Red Bulls Weekly Update: August 9

RED BULLS RETURN HOME TO HOST TORONTO FC WEDNESDAY: The Red Bulls return to Red Bull Arena for a pivotal Eastern Conference clash when they host Toronto FC with second place in the Conference on the line on Wednesday night at 7:30 PM ET (TV: MSG; Radio: WQBU 92.7 FM)

New York leads Toronto in the Eastern Conference table by two points following the club’s second successive draw on Sunday night at Chicago. The Red Bulls kept their seventh clean sheet of the season but could not find the net themselves despite outshooting the Fire 22-5. With the draw, the Red Bulls improved to 8-6-4 on the season and picked up their 28th point. The Red Bulls return home for an MLS match for the first time since July 10, when they earned a draw with D.C. United.

The Red Bulls welcome in third-place Toronto FC, who enters the match with a record of 7-6-5 and 26 points. Toronto is coming off a 2-1 victory over Chivas USA last Saturday, getting first half goals from Nana Attakora and Chad Barrett. While Toronto has been dominant at home, unbeaten in 10 contests at BMO Field, they have struggled on the road. This season away from home, Toronto is just 1-6-1 while being outscored 15-7. Toronto is paced by Canadian midfielder Dwayne De Rosario, who leads the club and is fourth in the league with 8 goals this season.

The Red Bulls are 4-4-1 all-time against Toronto, but have enjoyed a lot of success at home versus the Canadian club. In four matches hosting the Reds, New York is 3-1-0, and has outscored Toronto 11-3. Last season, the Red Bulls were 1-2-0 against Toronto with both losses coming at BMO Field. In their lone home match against Toronto in 2009, the Red Bulls scored a 5-0 victory in the last match ever played at Giants Stadium, with Macoumba Kandji and Juan Pablo Angel scoring twice each. Angel has netted six goals against Toronto all-time.

The Galaxy come into the match tops in the league, having earned 40 points through a 12-3-4 record. They are led by United States International Landon Donovan, who leads MLS with 11 assists while adding five goals himself. Many of Donovan’s assists have found his United States World Cup teammate and former Red Bull Edson Buddle, who leads the league with 12 goals thus far in 2010. Galaxy midfielder Michael Stephens is one of the top rookies in the league, adding a goal and seven assists in 19 appearances. Recently, Los Angeles fell to Spanish club Real Madrid, 3-2, in a friendly at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California last Saturday night. In their last league match, the Galaxy fell to the Chicago Fire 3-2 at the Home Depot Center on August 1.

Saturday’s tilt will be the first meeting between the clubs in 2010. Last season, the Red bulls fell to the Galaxy twice, losing 1-0 at the Home Depot Center on May 2nd, 2009, and falling 3-1 at Giants Stadium on July 16, 2009. All-time, the Red Bulls are 14-14-5 against their cross-country foes, including a 10-6-2 record all-time at home. Juan Pablo Angel has scored the most against the Galaxy of any Red Bull, netting five times.

FOUR RED BULLS GET INTERNATIONAL CALL UPS: Red Bull New York announced that four players have been called up by their respective national teams: defender Roy Miller, midfielders Rafa Marquez and Dane Richards and goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul. All four players will be unavailable for the team’s MLS regular season match against Toronto FC on Aug. 11.

Miller has been called in for Costa Rica’s friendly against Paraguay at Defensores del Chaco in Asunción, Paraguay. Miller, who has one assist in 15 appearances this season, has earned 14 international caps for his country.

Newcomer Marquez will join the Mexican National Team as they take on Spain on Aug. 11 in Mexico City, Mexico. Marquez has earned 94 caps, scoring 11 goals, his most recent coming in a 2010 World Cup match against South Africa

Richards has been called in for Jamaica’s friendly match against Trinidad and Tobago on August 11 in Macoya, Trinidad. Richards has 16 caps for the Jamaican national team. With New York this season, Richards has tallied one assist in 15 games.

Coundoul and Senegal will take on the Cape Verde Islands in Dakar, Senegal. Coundoul has played every minute for the Red Bulls in MLS play, earning a 1.24 goals against average and six shutouts. He has earned two caps for the Senegalese side.

MARQUEZ DEBUTS: Rafa Marquez made his debut as the Red Bulls’ third Designated Player on August 8 in the team’s 0-0 draw with the Chicago Fire at TOYOTA Park. The Mexico captain started the match and played 61 minutes.

RED BULLS PLAY TO SCORELESS DRAW IN CHICAGO: Despite out-shooting the Fire 22-5 and 16-2 in the second half, the New York Red Bulls played Chicago to a 0-0 tie at TOYOTA Park in front of a stadium-record 21,868 spectators Sunday night. New Red Bulls midfielder Rafa Marquez made his club debut against the Fire, starting and playing 61 minutes, as second-place New York improved to 28 points off an 8-6-4 record.

The Red Bulls threatened goalkeeper Sean Johnson’s net in the 19th minute. Forward Juan Pablo Angel was able to connect on a diving header from a Chris Albright cross, but it was stopped by Johnson. Johnson made another save two minutes later when Thierry Henry, who left the game in first half stoppage time due to a groin strain, had space to run at the defense and fired a left-footed shot at the goalkeeper. Soon after, Fire midfielder Marco Pappa had enough room to roll an attempt past the left post.

In the 40th minute, Red Bulls defender Roy Miller found Macoumba Kandji at the back post and the midfielder blasted an acute angle rocket that Johnson deflected away. Three minutes later, Fire forward Brian McBride slung a low cross to an open Freddie Ljungberg, but the Swede could not put his attempt on target.

In the second half, New York almost took the lead two minutes in. Marquez slid a cutting through ball to substitute Dane Richards, who took it in and zipped a low pass into to six yard box. However, a fully extended Kandji could not put it into the back of the net. Moments after, Kandji rose above his defender and headed a Joel Lindpere in-swinger wide. Kandji again had another chance in the air, this time from an Albright feed, but he nodded it just past the right post.

In the 68th minute, Angel nearly put the Red Bulls ahead, as he unleashed an 18-yard shot that Johnson dove to parry away. New York, which dominated possession in the second half, had a barrage of chances at the end of the match and Johnson, who recorded seven saves, was able to keep his clean sheet with several key stops. With one minute left in full time, Seth Stammler’s drive from long distance was touched away by Johnson. Johnson was called again off the ensuing corner kick, tipping a Tim Ream volley over the crossbar, before Angel’s flick goal-bound header on a separate play was blocked by the goalkeeper.

RED BULLS SIGN RAFAEL MARQUEZ: Red Bull New York announced today that it has signed former FC Barcelona star and Mexican National Team captain Rafael Marquez to a multi-year contract as the club’s third Designated Player.

“Rafael has shown on the club and international level that he is one of the world’s top players,” said Dietmar Beiersdorfer, Head of Red Bull Global Soccer. “He has been a winner at all levels and illustrated that he is a leader both on and off the field. We are thrilled that he decided to come to the Red Bulls at this time in his career.”

“I am excited to be joining the Red Bulls,” Marquez said. “Coming to New York and playing in Major League Soccer was a chance that I could not refuse. I am committed to doing my very best to help the Red Bulls in their playoff push this year and compete for championships in the years to come.”

Internationally, Marquez has appeared for Mexico 94 times, and has captained the team since the 2002 FIFA World Cup. With Mexico, Marquez won the 1999 Confederations Cup and the 2003 Gold Cup, and has led Mexico out of the first round in his three World Cup appearances. In the 2006 World Cup, Marquez netted a goal in Mexico’s second round match against Argentina and in 2010, he scored in the tournament’s opening match in a draw with host, South Africa.

Marquez spent the last seven seasons of his club career at storied Catalan side, FC Barcelona. He was a part of four La Liga winning Barcelona teams (2005, 2006, 2009 and 2010). In 2006, Marquez helped Barcelona win the UEFA Champions League title, appearing eight times in the competition, including in the final, where Barcelona beat Arsenal, 2-1. With the victory, Marquez became the first Mexican player to ever win the UEFA Champions League. He was also a member of Barcelona’s 2008-09 squad that won an unprecedented six championships, as he took home the UEFA Champions League title for the second time of his career.

Prior to joining Barcelona, Marquez played for AS Monaco from 1999-2003, as he became one of the most highly touted young players in world soccer. Marquez helped his club win the Ligue 1 title in his first season and was the Ligue 1 Best Defender in 2000. The 31-year-old started his professional career at Mexican club Atlas, where he debuted in 1996 at just 17 years of age.

NIELSEN, SASSANO UNDERGO SUCCESSFUL SURGERIES: Red Bull New York announced that midfielders Luke Sassano and Brian Nielsen underwent successful surgeries on August 5.

Sassano had a right ankle reconstruction procedure, which was performed by Dr. David Levine at the Hospital for Special Surgery. He will be sidelined for 4-6 months. Sassano, a third-year player who has featured in three games this season, will be placed on the team’s Season-Ending Injury List.

Nielsen had surgery to repair bony cartilage damage in his right knee in a procedure performed by Dr. Riley Williams at the Hospital for Special Surgery. The Danish midfielder, who is already on the club’s Disabled List, will miss five months. Nielsen has played in two games in 2010 after being signed on loan from Vejle Boldklub earlier this season.

CLUB WAIVES GOLDTHWAITE: Red Bull New York announced August 6 that it has waived defender Kevin Goldthwaite.

Goldthwaite, who was acquired from Toronto FC in exchange for defender Todd Dunivant on June 27, 2007, has not featured in a game for New York this season due to injury. During his time with New York, Goldthwaite appeared in 54 regular season matches, scoring two goals and two assists.

RED BULLS-GALAXY SOLD OUT: Red Bull New York announced that the MLS regular season match between the Red Bulls and the Los Angeles Galaxy on Aug. 14 at 6:00 PM ET (TV: Fox Soccer Channel, Fox Sports en Espanol; Radio: WQBU 92.7 FM) at Red Bull Arena is sold out.

Ticket plans for the second half of the Red Bulls’ MLS home schedule, including new Designated Player Thierry Henry’s expected home league debut in New York’s next match at Red Bull Arena on Aug. 11 against Toronto FC at 7:30 PM, are on sale now by calling 1.877.RBSOCCER or CLICKING HERE.

RED BULLS TO HOST SECOND MAYOR’S CUP: Red Bull New York will host the second annual Mayor’s Cup, a match between the soccer teams of the New York Police Department and the Fire Department of New York, immediately following the Red Bulls vs. San Jose Earthquakes match on Saturday, Aug. 28 at Red Bull Arena. The Red Bulls vs. Earthquakes match kicks off at 7:30 PM ET. The Mayor’s Cup will benefit the New York City PBA Widows’ and Children’s Fund and the Firefighter Sergio Villanueva Soccer Foundation.

The New York City PBA Widows’ and Children’s fund provides assistance to the widows and dependents of officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty. The Firefighter Sergio Villanueva Fund promotes domestic and international goodwill through the sport of soccer and commemorates the life of Sergio Villanueva, a New York City firefighter and former New York Police Department officer who gave his life on September 11, 2001.

“It is great to get the support from the premier football club in New York,” said Jonathan Kanovsky, Executive Director of the Firefighter Sergio Villanueva Soccer Foundation. “It is a great feeling to partner with the Red Bulls and have a local event that our supporters in the area can attend. It will be great to play on the best pitch in the United States and to be able to play our rivals in what we believe is the premier soccer facility in the country. What better place to promote international and domestic goodwill than the cultural melting pot that we live in here in the New York-Metro area.”

Fifty percent of Mayor’s Cup tickets sold will be donated to the aforementioned foundations. Tickets can be purchased by logging on to www.newyorkredbulls.com/mayorscup or by calling 1.877.RBSOCCER.

“We are very excited about the upcoming match,” said Lt. Ronald Mejia, coach of the NYPD Soccer Team. “It’s an honor to play at the Red Bulls’ new stadium, and at the same time play for bragging rights and of course two great causes. The Fire Department has a solid soccer team and although we are rivals on game day, they are our best friends off the field. We support each other's causes and really look forward to August 28th when we face off. The Red Bulls have given our teams such a big opportunity that we cannot thank them enough.”

Last year’s Mayor’s Cup was won by the FDNY, who defeated the NYPD by a 3-0 score. REAM, BOUNA LEADING THE WAY: New York rookie defender Tim Ream and goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul are the only players to have played every minute of the team’s 18 MLS regular season matches this year. CLUB WAIVES WOLYNIEC: Red Bull New York announced on July 30 that it waived forward John Wolyniec.

“John is a true professional and a hard working player. We spoke to John about staying on with the club in another capacity but he expressed an interest in continuing on with his playing career. We wish him the best of luck in the future,” said Red Bull New York General Manager and Sporting Director Erik Soler.

This season, Wolyniec played in four regular season matches, starting in two. The Staten Island, NY native also recorded four goals in four Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup games. Wolyniec, who is second all-time in regular season games played with 142, was re-acquired by New York on Aug. 17, 2006 from the Los Angeles Galaxy for a 2007 fourth round SuperDraft pick and a 2008 second round SuperDraft pick to begin his third stint with the club.

MATCH TICKETS FOR SECOND HALF ON SALE: Match tickets for the second half of the Red Bulls’ season are on sale now. Fans can purchase Groups, Family Packs and individual match tickets for all Red Bulls’ matches in August and beyond by calling 1.877.RBSOCCER or by CLICKING HERE. The full schedule of matches that are on sale is as follows:

SOLO FUTBOL AIRS SUNDAY: Red Bulls WADO 1280 AM and 92.7 FM announcers Ernesto Motta and Robert Sierra host their weekly call-in radio show, Solo Futbol, on Sunday night from 8-11 PM on WADO 1280 AM. Motta, Sierra and their panel of experts and guests analyze the Beautiful Game and the New York Red Bulls.